The Convair XB-53 was a proposed jet-powered medium bomber aircraft, designed by Convair for the United States Army Air Forces.[1] With a radical tailless, forward-swept wing design, the aircraft appeared futuristic; however, the project was canceled before either of the two prototypes were completed.[1]
| XB-53 | |
|---|---|
 1946 design then designated XA-44 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Attack aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Convair |
| Status | Cancelled in 1949 |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 0 |
| History | |
| First flight | n/a |
Design and development
editThe project was originally designated XA-44 in 1945 under the old "attack" category. An unusual forward-swept wing-design powered by three J35-GE turbojets, the project was developed in parallel with Convair's XB-46. The original design had a wing with a 12° forward-sweep and a solid nose section, but when the Army Air Force revamped the advanced attack aircraft requirement into a light bomber requirement in 1946, the aircraft was redesignated XB-53 and the wing redesigned with a 30° forward-sweep and 8° dihedral that was borrowed from German wartime research, but also a glazed nose section. The swept-forward configuration would give the aircraft a greater climb rate and maneuverability.[2][3] It looked promising enough at one point for the Army Air Force to consider canceling the XB-46 in favor of the XA-44, since there was not enough funding for both.[1]
Classified as a medium bomber, the XB-53 would have carried up to 12,000 pounds of bombs as well as 40 High Velocity Aerial Rockets (HVAR) mounted on underwing pylons.[1]
Convair argued for completion of the XB-46 prototype as a flying testbed, without armament and other equipment, and with the substitution of two XA-44s for the other two B-46 airframes on contract. The Air Force ratified this in June 1946 but the project did not progress, nor were additional B-46s built. The XB-53 program was reinstated in February 1949 but only for a short while.
Specifications (XB-53 estimated)
editData from [4]
General characteristics
- Crew: four
- Length: 79 ft 5 in (24.2 m)
- Wingspan: 80 ft 9 in (24.6 m)
- Height: 23 ft 8 in (7.22 m)
- Wing area: 1,370 sq ft (127 m2)
- Empty weight: 31,760 lb (14,406 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 60,000 lb (27,216 kg)
- Powerplant: 3 × Allison J35 turbojets, 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 500 kn (580 mph, 930 km/h)
- Range: 1,700 nmi (2,000 mi, 3,200 km)
- Service ceiling: 44,000 ft (13,000 m)
Armament
- Bombs: 12,000 lb (5,443 kg)
See also
editRelated lists
References
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d "Fact sheet: Convair XB-53." National Museum of the US Air Force. Retrieved: 9 July 2017.
- ^ Buttler, Tony (2010). American Secret Projects: Bombers, Attack and Anti-Submarine Aircraft 1945 to 1974. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-331-0.
- ^ Bradley, Robert, 2013. Convair Advanced Designs II: Secret Fighters, Attack Aircraft, and Unique Concepts 1929-1973. Manchester, England: Crécy Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8597917-0-0.
- ^ Jones 1974, p. 1980–1982.
Bibliography
edit- Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Bombers, B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1962, second edition 1974. ISBN 0-8168-9126-5.
- Knaack, Marcelle Size. Encyclopedia of U.S. Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume II – Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, USAF, 1988. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
- Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes – Second Edition. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1968. ISBN 0-370-00094-3.
External links
edit
- Convair XB-53, from USAF Museum
- Convair XB-53 – Aviation Enthusiast Corner
- Fantastic Plastic model of the Convair XB-53